2004 Honda Element: trims, real prices & how to pick yours
16 builds left the factory as a 2004 Element, each a different combination of engine, transmission and body identified by the first eight characters of its VIN. The 12 main configurations sell for $2,495–$13,995 today.
- 12 main configurations
- 6,995 vehicles built
- 72 for sale right now
- $2,495–$13,995 typical price range
Which Element is yours?
Enter a VIN — the 17 characters on the windshield or the title — and we’ll match it to its exact factory configuration, typical price and equipment.
Works with any VIN — a different year or model takes you straight to its own page.
Pick your Element
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EX · FWD 5J6YH185-42.4L 4-cyl, 160 hp, Automatic, Front-wheel drive. 1,001 built.
$2,495 great deal $6,400 typical $10,781 top of market -
EX · 4WD 5J6YH275-42.4L 4-cyl, 160 hp, Manual/Standard, Four-wheel drive. 203 built.
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LX · FWD 5J6YH173-42.4L 4-cyl, 160 hp, Manual/Standard, Front-wheel drive. 42 built.
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LX · 4WD 5J6YH273-42.4L 4-cyl, 160 hp, Manual/Standard, Four-wheel drive. 72 built.
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EX · FWD 5J6YH186-42.4L 4-cyl, 160 hp, Automatic, Front-wheel drive. 363 built.
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LX · 4WD 5J6YH283-42.4L 4-cyl, 160 hp, Automatic, Four-wheel drive. 413 built.
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EX · FWD 5J6YH175-42.4L 4-cyl, 160 hp, Manual/Standard, Front-wheel drive. 76 built.
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EX · FWD 5J6YH176-42.4L 4-cyl, 160 hp, Manual/Standard, Front-wheel drive. 64 built.
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Most common — 38% of 2004 Elements
EX · 4WD 5J6YH285-42.4L 4-cyl, 160 hp, Automatic, Four-wheel drive. 2,649 built.
$2,750 great deal $7,260 typical $13,995 top of market -
LX · FWD 5J6YH183-42.4L 4-cyl, 160 hp, Automatic, Front-wheel drive. 386 built.
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EX · 4WD 5J6YH286-42.4L 4-cyl, 160 hp, Automatic, Four-wheel drive. 1,437 built.
$4,000 great deal $6,950 typical $8,995 top of market
What actually differs
| EX · 4WD 5J6YH285-4 | EX · 4WD 5J6YH286-4 | EX · FWD | LX · 4WD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drivetrain | Four-wheel drive | Four-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive | Four-wheel drive |
| Typical price today | $7,260 | $6,950 | $6,400 | $5,999 |
| For sale right now | 28 | 14 | 15 | 6 |
| Vehicles built | 2,649 | 1,437 | 1,001 | 413 |
Same on every 2004 Element
- Engine 2.4L 4-cyl
- Power 160 hp
- Transmission Automatic
- Fuel Gasoline
- Body Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)
- Doors 5-door
What people actually pay
120 price observations · updated Aug 30, 2026Safety, in plain English
What 5J6YH185-4 means
- 5J6
- the World Manufacturer Identifier Honda registered — assembled in the United States
- YH185
- together encode the Element line — Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), 2.4L 4cyl, Front-wheel drive — as Honda filed it, these five characters are read as one block, not letter by letter
- 4
- in position 10 — model year 2004
- 9, 11–17
- differ on every car: check digit, plant code and the serial number
4 rare configurations — mostly fleet, export or irregular VIN patterns. Fewer than 20 known vehicles each.
- DX 2.4L 4cyl Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) 5J6YH172-4 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- DX 2.4L 4cyl Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) 5J6YH282-4 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- DX 2.4L 4cyl Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) 5J6YH272-4 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
- DX 2.4L 4cyl Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) 5J6YH182-4 Fewer than 20 known vehicles
Already looking at a specific Element?
Paste its VIN — we’ll open that exact car’s page: its configuration, market position and every listing we’ve tracked.